How Unusual is this holster? Packing Iron photo

[G.W. Strong]

How Unusual is the holster pictured in Packing Iron on p.111 in the upper right corner? It has a very deep flap/skirt that places the pistol quite low on the belt. My 13 year old son decided to start cowboy shooting with me late this summer. I quickly made him a holster and I used that picture as a starting place for my Mexican loop holster. No upon looking through the book it seems to be the only one set that deep on the belt. Is this an aberration or a fluke of what pictures were included in the book. All of the others seem to place the top edge of the bucket at or near the top of the belt. This one is closer to the bottom. I can post a pic from the book for reference but I figure it is a pretty common text on this forum.

Her is a pic of my son's rig. I want to replace it with one that is nicer and more authentic this winter. It was a quickie to get him going. He likes where they hang so if this is not an aberration I will make his next set in the same position. However if they are strange ones then back up to the top of the belt his next ones will go. Doing it historically accurately is important to us.

[St. George]

Look carefully at those pictured in 'Packing Iron', and you'll soon see that the normal holster of the era causes the weapon to seat deeply into the body of the pouch.

That - and not the much later thumbsnap or hammer thong - was how the weapons were retained.

The holsters also sit 'high' - with the holster body closer to the top fold - because the cartridge belt was worn relatively tight.

The pictures shown show what was actually worn - but remember too, that the most common was probably the holster bought at the local Dry Goods store, or from a mail order catalog - and those are made of thinner leather than the wonderfully tooled ones.

For an example of a similar holster - next time you go to a gun show, look at those made by 'Oklahoma Leather', and you'll have an idea of the weight and plainness of the period holster.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Springfield Slim]

As long as SOMEBODY did it back then it is historically correct. Doesn't mean it is the norm. I drive a motorcycle with a sidecar on it. Compared to most everybody else I am an aberration, but it doesn't make me any less real.

[GunClick Rick]

I guess if ya got to carry mooses those holster will do

"Hey Rocky,watch me pull a rabbit outta my holster"


I know when i was a kid if i had a set of holsters like that,i'd be tickled to death..

 

[G.W. Strong]

Nothing up my sleeve... Presto!

My son is Moose Wrangler. Hece the Moose Holster name

[Shotgun Franklin]

I've read, somewhere, that most of the Mexican Loop Holsters were machine made back East. They were packed tightly into a wooden barrel and shipped to stores out West. The lid would be taken off and the barrel set out on display. You'd pick your own for about 50 cents. I know not every one bought ready made but I'd bet that very many did.

[St. George]

Yup...

It's likely more holsters were built in New York and Chicago than anyone realizes.

Every one I've seen and/or owned were well-made of lightweight leather, and quite plain - but they all seemed to have a light rolled border stamping, in addition to the maker's mark.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!